[Python-ideas] Python Numbers as Human Concept Decimal System

[Mark H. Harris]

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 8:46:21 PM UTC-6, Chris Angelico wrote:
>
> # As above, start here 
> a = b 
> # Multiply both sides by a 
> aa = ba 
> # Subtract bb (aka b squared, ASCII-friendly) from both sides 
> aa - bb = ba - bb 
> # Factor (both sides separately) 
> (a + b) (a - b) = b (a - b)        <========of course all you really 
> proved is that  zero == zero
> # Cancel out the multiplication by (a - b) 
> a + b = b 
> # Subtract b from both sides 
> a = 0 


But then again, it really is a straw man (on steroids) because nobody is 
really surprised by
the absurdity

   postulate:  a=b
           {magic}
   conclusion:  a=0

At least no one should be surprised by an absurdity.  On the other hand 
once they  see
the proof run by them, um, quickly--- slight of hand, as it were, they 
might be surprised
if they don't catch it right away. 

{still laughing}

love it
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-ideas/attachments/20140308/75f0434a/attachment.html>